title: Fertility preservation: a pilot study to assess previsit patient knowledge quantitatively.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a quantitative assessment of patient knowledge about fertility and fertility preservation treatment options before the initial fertility preservation consultation at a university-based fertility preservation center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective pilot survey containing 13 items assessing patient knowledge about fertility preservation, including the available treatment options and their requirements, success rates, and associated risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based IVF center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women aged 18 to 41 years with illnesses requiring treatments posing a serious threat to future fertility who were referred for fertility preservation consultation between April 2009 and June 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one eligible patients were identified, and all completed surveys before their consultation. A knowledge score was generated for each patient with 1 point awarded for each correct answer. Overall, patients had poor previsit fertility preservation knowledge (mean score 5.9±2.7). Higher knowledge scores were correlated with personal experience with infertility and previous exposure to fertility preservation treatment information. There was no correlation between knowledge score and age, relationship status, pregnancy history, education, or income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients seen for fertility preservation consultation at our university-based center generally tend to be in their early 30s, white, well educated, and married. Previsit knowledge about fertility preservation treatment options was poor and did not correlate with age, education, and relationship status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7570, USA.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Balthazar
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mersereau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019359:Knowledge; D009819:Office Visits; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult